This summer, me and le Chuck went on a tennis adventure to Montreal, The Beautiful City, and (in my best hoser voice)… what a beauty it is, eh?
This was my first time in our country’s largest province. Quebec has always been a “gotta go one day” place, but I never had a reason to visit, until we discovered Montreal was hosting the men at Rogers Cup this year. Then we were all in! We might have come to watch a tennis tournament, but we ended up enjoying a whole lot more in this vibrant city rich with history and culture.
For eight wonderful days, we:
- Watched 10 Rogers Cup matches under sunny skies at Uniprix Stadium (including an epic Djokovic vs. Nadal match).
- Attended mass at Notre-Dame Basilica.
- Saw just how sprawling the city is from the Montreal Tower.
- Watched penguins waddle like, well, penguins and then swim like fiends at the Biodôme.
- Stood staring in awe at the whimsical sculptures of Mosaïcultures.
- Spent a day exploring the breathtaking and historic Quebec City.
- Ate crêpes and reminisced for hours with my UBC roommate at the bustling and vibrant Jean Talon Market.
- Dined on poutine (had to) at Frite Alors! and lathered spicy oil all over our eats at Jardin Nelson.
- Shopped the streets of Saint Catherine, Mont-Royal and Old Montreal (and discovered how awesome-sauce Simons is).
- Moved through the Metro like bosses — and loved every minute of it. (Plus, it was free with our Rogers Cup tickets!)
Aaaaand, I bought a lot of tea towels! (It’s my souvenir obsession.)
I have to say, this ranks right up there with the best vacations I’ve ever had. (It helps when your travel companion is super awesome!) Watch out Maui and Paris, you are on notice.
The view from our room at the Marriott Chateau Champlain — a HUGE Hotwire special.
Outside the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal.
Woah, the basilica is magnificent!
Beautiful, everywhere you look.
Place Jacques-Cartier – Vieux-Montréal/Old Montreal.
Vieux-Port de Montréal / Old Port of Montreal.
Olympic Stadium / Stade Olympique.
View of the city from the Montreal Tower.
Little grumpy-looking orange monkey in the Tropical Rainforest at the Biodôme.
A perfect maple leaf floats in greenery in the Laurentian Maple Forest at the Biodôme.
Penguins in the Sub-Antarctic Islands at the Biodôme.
Chalkboard art at Frite Alors! Our favourite place for poutine and a burger. Yum.
Shopping on the beautiful streets of Old Montreal.
Jardin Nelson. Our favourite place to eat in Old Montreal. They have the best spicy oil!
A view of Parc du Bassin Bonsecours from Place Jacques Cartier.
Ville de Montréal / Montreal City Hall
Cathedrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
My Montreal tea towel collection. I might have gone a wee bit overboard.
See also:
Great photos…
Thanks, Damien!